Brooklyn Brewery

I visited here on July 23, 2011 based on a picture I took on my old phone, pretty early in my craft beer career, but I figure now is as good of a time as any to write a review. Garrett Oliver is one of the most respected people in the industry, I have his books and love his expertise about craft beer and food. A real role model of keeping things true to styles with experimentation and not focusing in on any one area. A true classic American Craft brewery. When I went I just took the subway to Brooklyn from the Bronx where I was staying, was not too much of a deal to get there on foot. Parking is always a nightmare, as is anywhere in NYC. I went right around noon to get a tour of the brewery on a Saturday. Loved the vibe of the place with the big fermentation tanks showing right when you walk in through the double doors. Big brick warehouse, with a wooden roof and skylight shining down. Nice tasting room with a lot of taps and a wide array of styles as the brewery is known for. I had some Sorachi Ace and a really unique spiced saison that was probably a one-off, with some of the year round beers, as I recall. They have a flat rate wooden beer token system, so depending on the ABV, you may have to use more than 1 token per pour, the overall prices are fair. Otherwise, I really plan on visiting again, tons of amazing beer has grown in NYC since I went 15 years ago.

Unsure why I have never rated and reviewed this fine place…saw Slander’s characteristically detailed and insightful review and knew I needed to get crackin’.

Been coming here since the start and yes it has changed a lot.

Heritage beer brand in the area. Fine place to visit in a super happening and vibrant neighborhood. Culture overload in all directions.

Expect pour of their fine brews, pizza and other casual chow, casual and accepting atmosphere for all.

OG brewery that is still fashioning high quality takes on multiple styles of beer, both of the old and new school varieties.

Great place for a bite, with a group or before/after another stop or event.

When the job moved us to Brooklyn back in ’96, I quickly realized that the Brooklyn Brewery was located just 2.4 miles away and scouted it out on a Saturday afternoon, taking the tour and tasting 4 beers in small plastic cups curbside. And so it became my jam. I’ve been coming here on and off for 28 years now; let’s just say that things have changed some. In the early days of loft and industrial space before ‘burg became madness, it was just a dozen people here on Friday nights; local neighborhood folks pushing strollers and a 4 tap jockey box with the standard line up. Open 6-9pm and then you went to Mug’s ‘cause there was nowhere else to go. So many Friday nights spent here (when you could take your beer outside to the curb while catching a smoke), the Wythe to Berry block parties, and that Bindlestiff Family Circus run. Oh, the scene I’ve seen…

Their space is spread out over a few buildings seemingly cobbled all together. In through the giant arched doors of the center space and you’re greeted by 4 large tanks penned front and center. Vaulted worn wood plank arched ceiling with skylight action above, and a stained-glass Milton Glaser logo ‘B’ over the front doors that I’ve always felt they should shine a spot light through and bat signal up. The walls around the merch store off the entrance have come down; it really opened things up some. Big brick walls and concrete floors. Cutaway windows offering views of the original brew room this way and through to the tasting room that way.

The tasting room itself is a long low room to the corner of Wythe, and the brewery happens in another room. Concrete floorings, brick & cinder block walls, stairwell silo, glass wall private table room, panel windows over N. 11th. Phat wood pillar uprights and crossbeams, strung egg lighting & mounted lanterns, Oktoberfest flaggings, & spinny fans. A mural’d far wall (I think it’s seen the treatment 1000 times), an old bottle display, press pieces, and light art (I’ve seen some of the most amazing art shows here over the years.) Picnics in rows about the room; vertically & horizontally, and barrel tables, too. 2 dozen in all, plus a cushy chair area in the corner.

3 plank wood topped ‘C’ shaped bar with a chain meal fronted base. Seating on 4 red squared steel stools on the far end of the stretch and on the other end hook where Phil & I sat that one time we came and needed some space to park his wheelchair. The bar now spans a good length of the long rear wall, it used to be down over there (me, pointing).

2 towers with 12 logo handles each sunken below the bar and a pair of logo’d cylinder tap duos fronting box shelved glassware atop a 3 door cooler & adjacent jockey box behind the bar. Barback wall done up in pallets with large board with small slats listing selections standard & seasonal (beer, style, ABV), and a ‘From the Cellar’ (Barreled, Bottle Conditioned, Uncommon, & Interesting) board with additional goods off to the left (make sure you put eyes on that board). Wood slat overhang with cone lamps tracing, and track spots on the beer boards.

16 beers on tap; standard, seasonal, & specialty (Lager, 5.2%; Brown Ale, 5.6%; East IPA, 6.9%; Brooklyn BLAST!, DIPA, 8.4%; Oktoberfest, 5.5%; Brooklyn Fresh Pils, 5%; Bel Air Sour, DH Sour Ale, 5.8%; Migration Spring Lager, Maibock, 6.2%; Ruby Can’t Fail, BA Sour with Raspberries, 5.9%; Rooftop Oasis, Hazy DIPA, 7.7%; Pulp Art, Hazy IPA, 6.5%; Seed, Stalk, & Root, Dark Lager, collab with Cajun Fire, 6.5%; Early to Bed, Oak Aged Barleywine, 12.6%; Black is Beautiful, Imperial Stout, 7.4%; Mise En Place, Wit, CIA/Brooklyn, 4.6%; Brune De Ferrand, Brown Ale in Cognac – Old Ale, 6.5%) + bottles (Monster Ale 2009, Barleywine, 12.5%; Post Road Pumpkin Ale, 5%), bottle pours (Black Ops 2018, BA Russian Imperial Stout, 11%; Black Ops 4 Roses 2020, BA Russian Imperial Stout, 12.2%; Refraction, BA Coolship collab with Russian River, 5.8%), and cans (The Stonewall Inn IPA, Session IPA, 4%; Black Chocolate Stout, Russian Imperial Stout, 10%; Special Effects IPA, N/A, 0.5%; Special Effects Hoppy Amber, N/A, 0.5%; Brooklyn Hard Seltzer, 5%;). Between beer, N/A, & seltzer, + guest draft wine, sake, cider, & soft drinks, they’ve really got it all covered.

Started with my old friend Brown Ale (which I’ve been drinking since it was the Brooklyn Dark Ale in the pre-Garrett early 90’s), still has the love. The Okto was perfectly Oktoey; the Fresh Pils was nicely hoppy & bready, pleasant; and the Ruby Can’t Fail, BA Sour with Raspberries, was a goddamn delight (and you know of my aversion to Raspberry anythings).

It’s a mad extensive list, and everything well done. Brooklyn’s brewery. I’m sad I don’t get out as often these days.

Nothing special nor accommodating for an inveterate reviewer. Wouldn't recommend it. Out of the way, noisy and rudely behaving characters abound. Not sure this was the legitimate locale.

Was there early so maybe thats what added to the vibe being low key,not too upbeat.
Staff was mixed from not too interested to very energetic and helpful.
Had a nice mix of different styles but some weren't allowed in a 5 ounce pour or were only in bottle.
Still a good brewery to visit if in the neighborhood

Cavernous beer hall-esque building with numerous communal tables, a small service bar in the middle of the room. Loud and crowded, a bit touristy... parking can be a challenge.

 

Visited last week on a weekday in the afternoon with my wife. Vibe is cool, somewhat eclectic brewery, big and interesting location. Lots of non-standard stuff on tap, and most of what I tried was pretty good. Nothing was bad, some fairly standard stuff was just OK.

I didn't like their "small pours" policy at all, and/or the servers were unhelpful. I wanted small pours of several of their big beers (I'm not likely to be in the area again for years, and I can't drink several full servings of barrel aged beers), but the server told me (with some attitude) that she could only give me small pours as a side to a larger pour. Apparently flights are available (I saw other people with them at their table), but my server didn't bother to mention it as an option -- but maybe some of the beer I wanted wasn't available in a flight? I don't know for sure.

The Black Ops, Black Chocolate Stout, and the barleywine were really good. The hazy IPA and pilsner I had were boring. I'd go back, and I'd recommend it to the right kind of beer nerd. I would guess my server's attitude was a fluke, and I would hope that Brooklyn reconsiders their unhelpful "small pour" policy.

 

Probably my 5th visit over the last 20 years. They continue to make improvements while keeping the original flavor of the place. Got to sample Black Ops which was a thrill and went old school with a Brown after that. Service was great. Met a few tourists from Germany who were having a great time. They may not be as trendy as some others in Brooklyn but this is still a great place to enjoy beer.

Exterior reveals very little, while the interior opens up into a cavernous room full of a gift shop and brewing equipment. A long bar sits in the room adjacent, with bier hall style seating available as well. Tap list is pretty straightforward Brooklyn offerings, with some addition cellar pours and ciders available. Staff was quick and friendly.

It's a cozy space with good beer, making it well worth a visit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not sure why this beer is marketed and sold as a Lager. Its taste to me is much more reminiscent of a Palestinian Ale. The aftertaste is bitter and very hops-like. That said, it's a decent to solid beer to enjoy if Pale Ales are your thing.

 

 

 

Visited during the NYC Marathon. My wife was running the race, and the route passed within blocks of Brooklyn Brewery, one of my fave New World breweries. Although they weren't offering Local 1 or 2 (not really surprising),
they were pouring the Sorachi Ace, which was an excellent "on tap" opportunity for me. Staff was friendly and helpful, even for Brooklyn (New Yorkers, you know what I mean). Highly recommended stop, especially if you are NYC Marathon watching.....convenient to NYC Subway.